Alexander the Great is set to “return” to Egypt

Alexander the Great is set to “return” to Egypt, as 53 works from the celebrated “Alexander 2000” collection by the late architect, painter, and author M. (Makis) Varlamis will be exhibited at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina from December 13 for one month.

The collection includes 41 paintings and 12 sculptures, and its upcoming presentation was formally announced at the Archaeological Museum of Pella.

Elisavet Tsigarida, head of the Pella Ephorate of Antiquities, called the exhibition “a deeply significant moment” for both the museum and the country. She noted that Varlamis’ work “searches for Alexander,” adding that the ancient city of Pella was historically linked to North Africa and Asia through the Macedonian king’s campaigns—connections that continue to resonate. “Here, in his birthplace, we feel doubly moved that the myth of Alexander will travel again to the city of his heart, Alexandria,” she said. She also confirmed that the Palace of Pella, “Alexander’s home,” is expected to open by the end of the year.

Lazaros Kyrizoglou, president of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), emphasized Alexander’s global renown, recalling how people abroad immediately associate Greece with ancient philosophers and Alexander the Great. Describing Alexander’s accomplishments as “astonishing,” he said the Macedonian king led a campaign not only of conquest but of cultural exchange and rebuilding—principles still taught in military academies today.

Deputy Regional Governor of Pella Iordanis Tzamtzis stressed the importance of defending historical truth, stating that “Pella is the birthplace of Alexander the Great,” and announced efforts to organize an international symposium with the participation of culture ministers from countries along Alexander’s historic routes.

Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katerina Tsapikidou said the ministry supported the exhibition from the outset, calling the collection “a modern bridge between Pella and Alexandria” that conveys a message of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between cultures.

Asterios Nenos, from the Vergina Experimental Laboratory, thanked local schoolchildren whose portraits of Alexander were displayed at the event, suggesting they may also be shown in Alexandria. He highlighted Alexander’s enduring impact on cultures from Afghanistan to the Balkans.

Pella’s Deputy Mayor for Culture, Efrosyni Meremitsaki, said it was “essential to showcase Pella in a way that speaks to the heart,” acknowledging the extensive work invested in the exhibition.

Video messages were presented from Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Greek Ambassador to Egypt Nikolaos Papageorgiou, and archaeologist Kalliopi Limnaiou-Papakosta.
Zayed described Varlamis’ portrayal of Alexander as “conqueror, thinker, and young man,” offering new perspectives to modern audiences.
Ambassador Papageorgiou called the exhibition “a great return,” noting it arrives at a time of “mature and strong” relations between Greece and Egypt.
Papakosta, Director of the Hellenic Research Institute of Alexandrian Culture, said Alexander “never truly left Alexandria,” where his memory has shaped the city for centuries. Varlamis, she added, “digs into his own soul to discover his personal Alexander—an Alexander of tolerance, cosmopolitanism, and vision.”

Attendees included senior military officials and representatives of cultural institutions.

Varlamis’ monumental “Alexander 2000” project comprises 1,700 works and has toured globally since first being exhibited in Thessaloniki in 1997 during its tenure as European Capital of Culture.

The upcoming exhibition is held under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Egypt and several Greek ministries and institutions, and is co-organized by the Hellenic Research Institute of Alexandrian Culture, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, Austria’s Waldviertel Art Museum, the Vergina Experimental Laboratory, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.